I believe I’ll do my reflecting
from 2013 in small chunks, a bit at a time.It’s been a long year with reflecting built
in, so it’s not a good time for me to re-look again.But-for this end-of-2013 post, I want to
thank so many thoughtful commenters, friends, writers.It was a wonder of a year in that part of my
life.I was able to attend the All-Write
Conference in Indiana in June and meet so many with whom I had only an online
connection, very special indeed to meet such a terrific group, and have

Carrie Gelson of There's A Book For That and Maria Selke of Maria's Melange have put together a hashtag for posting #MustReadin2014 those we keep saying we need to read, but STILL haven't done. It's a type of goal setting, and we'll read more, but still need to cross these off the TBR list! I've also joined a reading challenge hosted by Myra, Fats & Iphigene at Gathering Books. Check this postfor more info! And this latest one that gathers all that are signed up so far in both challenges!

Here's mine, at least one for every month although I know I'll read more.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

And, also visit Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS for more reviews. Thanks to all these blogs we are able to discover many, many new books! Thanks Ricki, Kellee, Jen and Sheila!

Tweet! at #IMWAYR

This time, too, I am linking with Myra, Fats and Iphigene at Gathering Books for their Award Winning Book challenge by reading The Snow Day, by Komako Sakai, an author/illustrator from Japan. I'll share about their new challenge next week. See the blog for more info if you're interested now!

I'd also like to share that I'm joining the 2014 Latin@s in Kid Lit Reading Challenge

See the sidebar for the link!

===============================

I took a week off, so now am challenged as to how many books to share with you. Here is a list of the books read, with some reviews. Sorry the post is long, but please skim if you'd like! You can find further reviews on my Goodreads page. I completed my goal of 300 books, and think I'll keep that goal. I read more, but many were re-reads, for lessons, for sharing, for pleasure, so they don't count in the overall goal. There were amazing books this year. I hope you found some wonderful books in 2013, and find a few more below.

The Snow Day - written and illustrated by Komako Sakai She won the

Dutch Silver Pen Award for this book!

I’ve read many picture books in these two weeks, and this rates near the top. It was published in 2005, but someone recommended it and I finally bought it! Every student and teacher knows about the specialness of snow days, but this little kindergarten bunny has his very first one in this story. Both the soft and snowy illustrations and the story are wonderful. He gets to sleep in, but jumps right up when his mother tells him it’s been snowing all night. Sadly, she says also he can’t go out until the snow stops, so he watches and they play cards and he watches again. His daddy can’t get home from a business trip because of the snow. The little bunny says, “Mommy, we are all alone in the world.” But just at bedtime, he makes a discovery, the snow has stopped! You’ll have to read the book to see the magic that happens next.

Books I imagine will win awards this year!

Herman And Rosie - written and illustrated by Gus Gordon

There are many things to love about this book, if you love NYC, if you prefer happy endings, and if you adore picture books that appeal to all ages because of story told so well by words and illustrations! Several have recommended this, and I do agree, it’s a beautiful book to savor. I’ve read it twice, just looking and looking at all the details added to the story in the illustrations. For example, Herman works at a job selling ‘things’, and in a sketch of him at his office, there is a bulletin board that includes a list of ‘things’, like sparkly things and round Things. Some backgrounds are ephermera like cutouts of newspaper weather data or a cash register printout. There are also small parts that show the city is New York City, although the name is never written. In such a short text, it’s wonderful to see how the tension builds, as slowly Rosie and Herman move closer to a meeting. And that’s all I can say. You’ll have to find the book to enjoy the rest of the story, and to enjoy more than once!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

My first day of the holiday break, the day before the earth changes once more, and our days begin the turn toward spring. Happy Solstice everyone! Run over to Buffy Silverman's blog to see what others have for you this week, and to enjoy the 'snappy' poem she's written about her Venus Flytrap! Thanks for hosting, Buffy! This year, again, I had the pleasure of swapping poetry with several wonderful people, both during the summer, and now for the holiday/winter swap! Thanks to Tabatha Yeatts of The Opposite of Indifference who started this marvelous idea. This holiday, I was excited to have Irene Latham as my swap partner. I've read and loved her books, the children's fiction and the adult poetry (you can find them here), and look forward to her new poetry book, The Sky Between Us, out very soon!

Monday, December 16, 2013

The Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted by the Two Writing Teachers blog. Go there to visit the other"slicers"! Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Anna, and Elisabeth for all the marvelous posts they share!

"Friendship Doubles Our Joy And
Divides Our Sorrows"

I’ve started a new slice in my life, sort
of, by volunteering at the nursing home where my husband lived for 18 months.I’ll be able to help with those patients I grew to like so much, and
to meet new ones.I’ve been back more
than once since Arvie's passing, and have discovered I miss the connections I made there.

When I first began this journey with my
husband, I wanted to get to know those who would be caring for him.I spent time sharing with the staff about
him, about myself, and about my family.My
own family and a few friends visited.Slowly we all began to know each other, about our family and about
theirs too.I knew who had children, who was not married, who had grandchildren. I discovered who visited their mother, sister, friend, brother, father.We were unique, but all connected because of
the diagnosis of dementia in its diverse forms.It became nearly as good a visit with others who lived there as it was
with my husband.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

And, also visit Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS for more reviews. Thanks to all these blogs we are able to discover many, many new books! Thanks Ricki, Kellee, Jen and Sheila!

Tweet! at #IMWAYR

This time, too, I am linking with Myra, Fats and Iphigene at Gathering Books for their Award Winning Book challenge by reading The Thing About Luck, by Cynthia Kadohata, illustrations by Julia Kuo!

===============================I'd also like to share that I'm joining the 2014 Latin@s in Kid Lit Reading ChallengeSee the sidebar for the link!

Novels

Borrowed Names – written by Jeannine Atkins

There is more than one book in my house that I’ve bought because it somehow called to me, and that I haven’t read. This has been one of them, and I’m sorry I put it off so long. I enjoyed it very much. Not only are the stories beautifully told in verse, but I learned new things about these women, one of which I had never heard of, one I know because of her books I love, and one I know only because of my meager science knowledge. Jeannine tells the loving and at times not so loving stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madam C.J. Walker, and Marie Curie and their daughters, the strong history of each highlighted, but also the pull of the relationship. Each of the mothers were born in 1867.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Thanks to Ruth Ayres at DiscoverPlayBuild, for this Saturday tradition of sharing our celebrations. Come visit to share the celebrations! Tweet at #Celebratelu

There is that spirit in the air, busy with final projects at school, planning for different kinds of celebrations, with students, colleagues and friends, and then finally, family! This recent week I*had high tea with friends at a local tea house, complete with lemon curd and clotted cream on scones!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Tabatha Yeatts, at The Opposite of Indifference, is our host this Poetry Friday, and I know I will learn something new, as I do often when visiting Tabatha's posts. Thank you, Tabatha!

Some days it’s not so easy to choose
the topic for Poetry Friday.I’ve been
thinking about the passing of Nelson Mandela, wondering how to share more that hasn't already been written, and eloquently.Did we lose something of much value, or will his legacy be more powerful
now?Will there be someone else who
takes up the message?Although it is always on my mind, at this Christmas time of year for many, I think about those
military women and men who will miss being with their families, are
missing their growing children, their aging parents, the changes at home.On our television, we have more than one
military person saying hello to their families here, so I send a
thought and a prayer to them across the miles, wishing they could come home,
and soon.I wish for peace.

And then, today, a dear friend and
colleague with whom I trade books back and forth brought me a book to read,
which I want to share with you. Maya Angelou’s Amazing Peace, A Christmas
Poem was published in 2005.The
dedication says: “For my great-grandchildren, Caylin Nicole Johnson and Brandon
Bailey Johnson.For all the children of
the world, who, in order to grow healthily, need our love and poetry.”The message is written, and I cannot write it better, only agree.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted by the Two Writing Teachers blog. Go there to visit so many other terrific "slices"!

I’ve never had a tradition with
Christmas trees. As a child or in my
marriage, there has been more than one “thing” we’ve done about “the tree” for
Christmas. Monday, I went to Target and
bought a new artificial tree. I was not
happy with a bigger tree last year, and finally found time to shop for a new
one. I discovered a sweet little pre-lit
tree that fits just right in one place in my living area.

Is this the ideal memory-making
event for Christmas?Maybe?I’ve found that doing things during the holidays,
and perhaps every other day has more to do with the attitude I use than what
happens in the event.I went to Target,
found just the tree I imagined, stopped at Starbucks for chai, and went home
to put it up.It was a good time. My
granddaughter will be over later in the week to help with the trimming.We’ll play Christmas music, read some special
books, and she’ll help me.We’ll make
memories!

Friday, December 6, 2013

Thanks to Ruth Ayres at DiscoverPlayBuild, for this Saturday tradition of sharing our celebrations. It's special to read all the posts.

Tweet at #celebratelu

On Thursday, my daughter, son-in-law and I attended a Service of Remembrance given by Vitas, the hospice group who cared for my husband until he died. At the end of the year, they hold this ceremony with a "reading of the names", in their words, "to remember and honor those who have died and gone before us." It was bitter cold and only three families were able to come, but others were honored. We participated in a few readings, listened to some lovely and reassuring words from one of the chaplains, and the names were read.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

We are celebrating Poetry Friday with our wonderful host today, Robyn Hood Black of Life On The Deckle Edge. Visit there for all the Friday links, plus don't forget to visit Robyn's Creative blog, Artsy Letters, that links to her Etsy site-great for gifts for all your creative friends and family. I want to offer a blessing for Nelson Mandela on his passing. I know that South Africa is saddened for the loss of their great leader tonight, as are many in all parts of the world. This post is also about the loss of a leader.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted by the Two Writing Teachers blog. Be sure to check out all the other slicers. It's terrific to see what they're sharing. SPECIAL: I'm visiting Michelle Barnes at Today's Little Ditty: Limerick Alley, with a limerick of course! I'm thrilled to be there, but the road to limerick writing is definitely not easy! Come visit! Many, many others have written great reflections about NCTE. I actually have taken a few notes from other blogs because they went to sessions I would have loved to, but was in a competing time. What to do, where to go-the continual questions! Here is one small slice of one session with a big idea and another project it reminded me of that I've done, too. At Poetry Central To Our Core, presenters were Maureen Barbieri, Georgia Heard, Tom Romano and Linda Rief. Linda Rief spoke of a project that could be adapted to varied needs and student ages. She referenced Georgia Heard's well-known idea of creating heart maps of topics and ideas important to list for future writing ideas. And, she took it further, suggesting that students could also create a poetry book from those heart maps. She asked students to find a new poem each week that reflected something from the heart map (which is used as the book's cover). In a double-page spread, copy the poem (type or hand-write) and illustrate it. Each week, she introduced a new art technique too. On the right hand side, students were asked to explain why the choice and what is the connection.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

And, also visit Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS for more reviews. Thanks to all these blogs we are able to discover many, many new books! Thanks Ricki, Kellee, Jen and Sheila!

Tweet! at #IMWAYR

Eat Like A Bear – written by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve
Jenkins

With the part rhyming text and the gorgeous full-page illustrations, this
is a book to enjoy with young children over and over again. All about what bears eat, how they find food,
and eventually ready their bodies for winter will be a book to entertain as
well as inform. I think it might also start the wondering about other animals’
eating habits, too. Terrific and
beautiful book.

Carnivores - written by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Dan Santat

It’s been written about a lot, and
it’s well worth the look at three carnivores—a lion, a shark and a wolf—feeling
a little low because they are made fun of because of what they eat. After all, they eat meat! And that means all those other animals who
are meat are just a little scared and make unkind comments. All sorts of solutions are created to solve
this self-esteem problem, but the end solution, helped along by another
carnivore, a wise old owl, is good advice for everyone, self acceptance. I imagine this will start big conversations
among younger students. The
illustrations are bold and entertaining, sometimes tongue-in-cheek funny!

Friday, November 29, 2013

Thanks to Ruth Ayres at DiscoverPlayBuild, for beginning a Saturday tradition of sharing our celebrations. It's a treat reading all the posts. Tweet at #celebratelu.

I've spent the recent two posts celebrating different parts of being at NCTE last weekend, and there is more to share. However, today I'm going to make a list of those tiny things which make my life so good, some touching NCTE as well.

vMeeting Catherine of Reading to the Core
at the Slicer breakfast was terrific. We also happily connected at several other
sessions, including one
she wrote yesterday for Poetry Friday, about the poetry session that included
Georgia Heard.Catherine always takes
good notes, and explains things so well in
her posts and I appreciate that very much.This time, the ‘little thing’ I loved is that she remembered and shared
this quote by Matthew Fox and shared by Georgia Heard. I am so glad to have it,
because I did not write it down!“The Celtic
peoples…insisted that only the poets could be teachers. Why? I think it
is because knowledge that is not passed through the heart is dangerous.”

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Poetry Friday is hosted today at Carol's Corner, Carol Wilcox's blog. Go visit her blog to discover a list of many wonderful books of poetry that Carol writes she's giving as gifts this year. Thanks for hosting and for a terrific list, Carol! I spent last week in Boston at the NCTE convention, with teachers and writers-those people who love words! I know this poem is probably familiar to you all, yet they fit my time so well: Ink Runs from the corners of my mouth There is no happiness like mine. I have been eating poetry. --Mark Strand, "Eating Poetry" Reasons for Moving, 1968

What a tasty poetic meal I had meeting or reuniting with some of you whom I know through these Friday posts, and with others I met briefly whose names inspire. I am grateful I could take the opportunity to go, and thrilled that I was able to meet, talk with, or enjoy the learning in the sessions about poetry I attended. And, I loved rooming with Tara Smith, a great time with someone I previously knew only through blogging, and now know that she is really the lovely and thoughtful person we know from her writing.

Thank you Laura Purdie Salas for welcoming me to a poetry Friday get-together. I loved being with you, Laura and getting a first peek at your new book. Also, Diane Mayr joined us, and it was wonderful to visit with you, Diane. Then, I met and talked with Jane Yolen, Sara Holbrook, Heidi Stemple, and David Harrison and his wife. It was a terrific evening!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted by the Two Writing Teachers blog. Visit to see all the other slicers' posts. It is always a pleasure! I had an estate sale earlier this year, and sold quite a few things, many of them old pamphlets, books, etc. that belonged to my husband’s and my family. I don’t keep everything! But I have kept one pamphlet that I’ve read often since I was young, full of wise essays and poems about Thanksgiving. It was given to me by a teacher in high school. In the inside cover there is a part of a piece I’d like to share, by a B.W. Eva, credited as editor. The title is Thanksgiving Thoughts.

The words: “Thankfulness is a state of mind. It implies appreciation, joyousness, courage, hopefulness and moral strength. The sum of human comfort during the year past has been greater than last year, as it is each successive year. It is a thankless heart indeed that does not recognize this. The best part of it is that gratitude is within the grasp of everyone. No soul is entirely bereft.”

There are other words that inspire me, yet few talk about the need for courage. In challenging times, doesn’t it take courage to find things to appreciate? Finally, there is a quote from Cicero: “A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.”

I only have two books to share, and you can find the review here for Counting by 7s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan. It is one of the best books for upper middle grades (perhaps into YA) I've read in a long time.

The second book is God Got A Dog, Cynthia Rylant's new book of poetry. Oh my, it is a wonder of thoughtfulness about God and the living things we 'see' here on earth. Marla Frazee's illustrations pair with each poem like icing on a cake. They are delicious!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted by the Two Writing Teachers blog. Visit to see all the other slicers' post. It will make a terrific day for you! If you read my posts through the week, you know I've fallen into a routine. Mondays I review books, Tuesday is the Slice of Life, then there is Poetry Friday, and more lately, Saturday Celebration. I try to keep it simple, and enjoy the communities in which I participate. It's a plentiful, varied, and a learning week, about people's stories, what they read, what poets they enjoy, including all the writing talents observed and the amazing books shared.

However, sometimes it's important to break the habits for something a little different. This time, even after the Monday Reading sharing, I need to review another book. I've neglected reading some posts tonight, and other obligations in order to finish a book. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan is one of the best books for upper middle grades (perhaps into YA) I've read in a long time. I literally have read almost 200 pages in the past day in order to finish!

I won this book from Jen Bryant
weeks ago. I knew Jen’s work from her
wonderful picture book biography A
Splash of Red, so was excited to receive another book by her. Published in 2006, sorry I missed it, but I
enjoyed this thoroughly. It’s a verse
novel, a ‘Just” thirteen year old girl named Georgia whose mother died years
ago, and who lives with her construction worker dad in a trailer parked on a
ranch. In exchange for chores around the
farm, they are allowed to live there.
This book is one of the quietest books I’ve read in a long time, a
marvelous story to savor. The story is
told through Georgia’s eyes, to her deceased mother, written in a journal given
by a counselor at school. Georgia is
already a gifted artist and that important gift weaves itself into the story
because sometimes she has to hide it!
Her mother too was an artist and it makes Georgia’s dad sad to see her
drawing too. There are so many good
relationships, Georgia’s time with the
counselor, the art teacher and the school nurse, her best friend Tiffany, with
the horses and her dog on the ranch, her newfound discovery of the Wyeth art at
a local museum, and of course, with her dad.
Slowly, they learn to mend their grieving in good ways “together”.

I wrote last week that I have been
finding poetry books nominated for this year’s Cybil’s award, to read ahead so
I can be somewhat prepared for my work as a second round judge. It’s
going to be a challenge to choose the finalists for those first round judges
this year!

The poetry I’ve read this year is marvelous and creative. As a
literacy coach, the writing has made my work a pleasure because I can share
poems and poets that both show the possibility and the joy of poetry. I
always find poems to copy and share with teachers and students from the
youngest to the oldest, kindergarten through 8th grade. If you haven’t
discovered the poetry published this year for children and teens, go to the
Cybil’s blog here, and look at this wonderful list!